Microsoft Teams Phone vs Talkroute: Shared Number, Forwarding & Costs
You want one published business number to ring several existing phones. Does every employee need a Teams Phone license, or can Talkroute route calls to their mobiles? This guide compares real costs, forwarding behavior, caller ID, setup and the controls your team may need as it grows.
Quick answer: Talkroute is a practical shortlist for a US or Canadian small business that needs one shared line and forwarding to existing devices. Teams Phone is a better starting point when employees already use Teams all day and need managed calls inside it. Count app logins separately from forwarding destinations.
Microsoft Teams Phone
Calling inside Microsoft Teams for licensed workers, with auto attendants, queues and suitable PSTN connectivity.
4.4/5 on G2 for Microsoft Teams overall — this is not a Teams Phone-specific rating.
Talkroute
Virtual business numbers that route to existing phones or Talkroute apps. Account logins and forwarding destinations are counted differently.
4.6/5 on G2 for Talkroute (44 reviews at review time).
Microsoft Teams Phone vs Talkroute at a glance
| Decision | Microsoft Teams Phone | Talkroute |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Employees placing and receiving calls within Teams | One public line forwarding to existing US/Canada numbers |
| How staff answer | Licensed Teams user and configured PSTN route | Forwarded personal phone or an account user in the app |
| Costs scale with | Eligible user licenses and PSTN package | Account tier, included app users, numbers, mailboxes and add-ons |
| Menu and business hours | Auto attendants and queues in supported configuration | Plus tier lists one menu and hours of operation |
| Recording | Confirm compliant recording configuration | Pro currently lists recording and reporting |
| Key limitation | Requires licensing and PSTN administration | Forwarding alone is not the same as giving staff app access |
How one business number reaches your team
1. Customer calls
A customer dials the advertised number. That number remains the consistent public contact.
2. System routes
A menu, business-hours schedule or ring group decides which staff devices receive it.
3. Staff answer
They may answer via an app or a forwarded mobile. Test transfers, missed calls and business voicemail before launch.
Critical distinction: Talkroute says you can forward calls to as many numbers as needed without paying per forwarding destination. A separate account login is needed to access assigned voicemail, texting, call history and the Talkroute apps. Teams Phone generally licenses employees who use Teams calling.
Talkroute call forwarding vs Teams Phone: what happens on a personal mobile?
Forwarding lets employees keep existing mobile service while receiving calls placed to the business number. That makes it attractive for owners and contractors who only need to answer. It does not automatically give them an outbound business identity, a shared SMS inbox or permissions to inspect call history. If an employee must return a call from the public number, test Talkroute’s mobile or desktop app and the required login.
Distinguish porting from forwarding. If you forward your existing public number into Talkroute, the old carrier still controls that original number. If you port the number into Talkroute, the previous mobile SIM will need a replacement number to keep its mobile service; Talkroute says the ported business number can then ring the replacement mobile. Test inbound and outbound behavior before advertising any change.
Related reading: how VoIP call forwarding works, voicemail to email, and call queues.
Detailed feature breakdown: quality, routing, scalability and integrations
| Feature | Teams Phone | Talkroute | Buyer test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call quality | Teams device/network plus PSTN operator | App or forwarded carrier connection | Test office Wi-Fi, mobile signal and real destinations |
| Ring group | Call queue or group routing, subject to setup | Plus lists simultaneous ring | Ring two phones; record pickup and no-answer behavior |
| Menu & hours | Auto attendant and schedule | Plus lists one menu and hours of operation | Change greeting and holiday schedule yourself |
| Outbound ID | Configured number and policy in Teams | Business number via Talkroute app; personal dialer may differ | Call a real customer device and inspect display |
| Scalability | Add eligible users, numbers and carrier capacity | Basic 1, Plus 3, Pro 10 account users; extra users listed | Compare price for 1, 3, 5 and 10 app logins |
| Integrations | Microsoft 365 identity and Teams workflow | Talkroute API; validate your CRM workflow | Test contact sync or request a documented integration |
| Recording | Check specific compliance and licensing | Pro lists call recording | Verify consent and retention in a pilot |
Talkroute pricing vs Teams Phone: five-person examples
Talkroute currently lists Basic $19/month (one account user, one number), Plus $39/month (three users, two numbers), and Pro $59/month (10 users, three numbers). Additional account users are listed at $5/month each. Included US/Canada calling is subject to reasonable-use rules; extra numbers and some other features cost more. These are advertised US plan figures as checked in September 2026, before any verified referral promotion.
| Five-person pattern | Likely Talkroute starting point | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| One owner uses the app; four people only receive forwarded calls | Basic, $19/month | Basic routing is enough; no simultaneous ring/menu requirement |
| Three people need app logins and two others receive forwarding | Plus, $39/month | Menu, simultaneous ring, two numbers and three user access rights |
| Five people need separate app access | Plus + two $5/month users = $49/month, or Pro $59/month | Whether Pro recording, reports and 10 mailboxes justify the $10 difference |
Teams benchmark: Microsoft lists Teams Phone Standard at $10/user/month paid yearly in the US, subject to an eligible Teams/Microsoft 365 base plan. Five Phone Standard add-ons would therefore be $50/month before PSTN connectivity and other required costs. Get the applicable Microsoft Calling Plan or carrier quote instead of comparing $50 directly with a complete Talkroute package.
A referral URL mentioning “discount 20” is not proof of a currently available 20% discount. Check the live offer, billing term, eligibility and final checkout total.
Microsoft Teams Phone vs Talkroute: pros and cons
Teams Phone pros
- Calling is in the same app staff already use for work.
- Centralized Microsoft administration and eligible carrier choice.
- Structured auto attendants and queues.
Teams Phone cons
- Each calling user needs eligible licensing.
- PSTN and emergency-location setup take planning.
- A simple shared-number use case may incur more admin work.
Talkroute pros
- Forward to existing phones without a paid login for each destination.
- Clear account tiers for a small US/Canada operation.
- Shared number, app access and menus available by tier.
Talkroute cons
- Basic does not list Plus menu and simultaneous-ring features.
- Personal dialer calls may reveal the personal number.
- Login, recording and mailbox needs raise the tier or cost.
Independent rating and a real-world buying lesson
G2 currently reports a 4.6/5 Talkroute rating from 44 reviews. Its review summary highlights easy setup for remote staff; that is a useful prompt to test setup, not a guarantee of your own call quality. The 4.4/5 Microsoft Teams figure refers to Teams overall rather than a separate Teams Phone rating.
Named customer account: Talkroute published an account from Matthew Martin, project director at Spade Design, describing a mobile workforce and the use of multiple numbers to distinguish incoming campaign calls. This is a vendor-hosted customer story from 2016, so test today’s plan and routing rather than treating its results as a current guarantee. Read the customer account.
Your own scenario: if an owner and office assistant need app access but technicians only answer forwarded calls, count two Talkroute account logins and test the live ring order before selecting a plan.
Implementation checklist for a shared business number
- Write down who only receives calls, who makes outbound calls and who manages voicemail or SMS.
- Choose a new public number or request porting; keep your old service active until completion.
- Build business-hours routing and a single voicemail owner; define the backup when both devices are unavailable.
- Check emergency calling and carrier charges for forwarded mobiles.
- Place live calls from every location and return one call from each device to verify caller ID.
- Get an all-in quote for numbers, account users, mailboxes, SMS and any required recording.
Verdict: is Talkroute or Teams Phone right for you?
Shortlist Talkroute if one public US/Canada number must reach existing phones, only a few staff need app accounts and the Plus or Pro features match the routing you require. Shortlist Teams Phone when employees work in Teams, each needs a managed business-calling identity and your IT team can configure licenses and PSTN. The decisive test is a real customer call on a busy day, followed by a callback that displays your business number.
Explore Talkroute for your shared number Explore Microsoft Teams Phone
Microsoft Teams Phone vs Talkroute FAQs
Which is better for one shared business number?
Talkroute is a strong candidate if one US or Canadian business number should ring several existing phones without granting every recipient an account login. Teams Phone suits licensed employees who already work in Teams and need calling there.
Do forwarded Talkroute calls require a paid user seat for every phone?
Talkroute says forwarding destinations are not charged as account users. Users who need their own app access or settings login count against the included account-user allowance.
Can Talkroute ring multiple personal mobiles at once?
Yes, simultaneous ring appears on Talkroute Plus and higher. Basic includes forwarding and routing, but check the exact configuration and trial the ring order before publishing the number.
What is the difference between forwarding a number and porting it?
Forwarding keeps an existing number at its current carrier and sends incoming calls into Talkroute. Porting moves that number into Talkroute; after a port, the old mobile needs its own replacement carrier number to remain usable.
Can I call customers using my Talkroute business number?
Talkroute offers outbound calling through its mobile and desktop apps. Simply placing a call from a personal phone outside the app can show the personal number; test the outbound caller ID flow.
How much does Talkroute cost for three app users?
At the September 2026 advertised rates, Talkroute Plus costs $39 per month and includes three account users, two numbers and three mailboxes. Extra numbers, users and other add-ons may cost more.
Does Talkroute Basic include a phone menu?
The current Talkroute pricing page lists one menu, simultaneous ring and hours of operation on Plus, rather than Basic. Check any changed plan terms before checkout.
Does Talkroute Pro include call recording?
Yes, Talkroute currently lists recording, reporting and scheduled forwarding in Pro at $59 per month with 10 account users. Confirm recording rules and retention for your business.
Is a Teams meetings account enough to call outside numbers?
No. External calling requires suitable Teams Phone entitlement and a PSTN connection, such as a Microsoft Calling Plan, Operator Connect or Direct Routing, depending on eligibility and country.
Can I use Talkroute and Teams together?
Yes. Keep Teams for meetings and internal chat while routing customer calls through Talkroute; the two services have separate numbers, administration and subscription considerations.
Which option sounds better on a mobile phone?
Call quality depends on the network, device, headset and route. Test inbound forwarding and app-based outbound calls with the same staff at the same locations before choosing.
Can Talkroute forward calls internationally?
Talkroute documentation centers US and Canadian phone numbers for forwarding destinations. Confirm your exact destination country and any carrier charges directly rather than assuming worldwide forwarding.
Does Talkroute offer a 20% discount through this link?
The referral URL mentions a discount, but the actual promotion and eligibility must be verified on the live landing page. Do not assume a fixed saving in your budget.
What happens when a forwarded mobile goes to personal voicemail?
A personal carrier voicemail can answer before the business voicemail if ring times are not configured carefully. Test unavailable, declined and after-hours calls on each forwarding device.